HEPATOBILIARY SONOGRAPHY IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Real-time abdominal sonograms of 27 pediatric patients with cystic fib rosis were reviewed to determine the frequency of hepatobiliary abnorm alities and their variation with patient age. Attention was paid to he patic echotexture and gallbladder size and contents. Seventeen patient s (63 %) had abnormal livers appearing as diffuse hyperechogenicity wi th loss of visualization of periportal echoes in 5 of 17 patients (29 %), periportal hyperechogenicity in 9 of 17 (53 %) and heterogeneity i n 3 of 17 (17 %). Gallbladder abnormalities, including a small gallbla dder and sludge, were found in 9 patients (33 %). Our findings show th at altered hepatic echotexture is quite common in children with cystic fibrosis. Younger children tend to have diffusely hyperechoic livers, while older children often demonstrate periportal hyperechogeneity or diffuse hepatic heterogeneity.